Entering the weekend undefeated, Chicago suffered their first loss at the onset of a home-and-home with Grand Rapids, but they bounced back with an 8-4 win on Sunday.
The Wolves will host Cleveland twice this weekend before heading on the road for four-straight away games.
Weekly Stats
Explore: Nashville’s AHL/ECHL Prospects
Game Recaps
February 26 @ Grand Rapids Griffins
The Wolves struggled from the start during this one, letting Grand Rapids open up with three unanswered goals in the first two periods. Never cracking double-digit shots in a period, Chicago appeared on the scoresheet just once thanks to Rem Pitlick’s seventh of the season.
February 28 v. Grand Rapids Griffins
Chicago started quickly with Phil Tomasino scoring just 48 seconds into his first game back from injury. The Wolves and Griffins traded two more goals each in the first but exploded for five more from Cavan Fitzgerald, Seth Jarvis, Rem Pitlick, Sean Malone, and David Cotton.
Players of the Week
Jeremy Davies: Davies has really started to show off his mobility as a defenseman this season, including putting up two nice assists against Grand Rapids on Sunday. He’s consistently one of the better defenders for Chicago, seemingly able to keep the puck on a string and mimicking Roman Josi when skating laps around the opponent’s zone while trying to set up scoring chances. He fits best with a stay-at-home defender who can hold down the blue line while Davies goes roaming. [RK]
Rem Pitlick: Pitlick added two goals and an assist on the weekend, having now scored in four-straight games for the Wolves. With Seth Jarvis returning to the WHL, he leads the AHL in goals (8) and points (10). Seven of those ten points have been primary ones scored at even-strength, and he’s recorded a primary point on 78% of the Wolves’ even-strength goals he’s been on the ice for. Pitlick capped off the week by earning the AHL’s Player of the Month honors for February. [ED]
Notes and Quotes
- Tucson Roadrunners: The Roadrunners went 1-2-0 last week, losing twice to the Colorado Eagles. Josh Wilkins was scratched for the previous two games, and Michael Carcone went scoreless in those three games.
- Cleveland Monsters: Brandon Fortunato skated on the Monsters’ third pair in their lone game last week.
- As mentioned last week, Seth Jarvis is returning to Portland of the WHL prior to their season start coming shortly. The move opens up a bit of space in a crowded Wolves’ lineup.
- Sean Malone returned to the AHL as Tanner Jeannot was recalled to Nashville’s taxi squad. Malone, skating in his first game for the Wolves, scored on Sunday. Head coach Ryan Warsofsky noted he provides great experience down the middle while leading by example.
- Chicago’s penalty kill—which is now 14th in the AHL at 81.3%—got away from what it knows best on Sunday, giving up three goals on four chances to the Griffins.
- After being traded from Toronto last month, defender David Warsofsky skated in his first two games for the Wolves this weekend, being coached by his brother, head coach Ryan.
- Cole Smith has put together some nice forechecking performances lately.
- After missing two games with an injury, Phil Tomasino returned to the lineup on Sunday, scoring his fourth of the season. He usually finds success carving to the middle of the ice and engaging as he did on that play. Coach Warsofsky on his return to the ice and these younger players: “I thought he came in and got better as the game went on…It is what it is…they’re 18 or 19-years old, and it’s going to take them some time to understand, when a game ramps up, how they have to get mentally more engaged in the hockey game…”/
All statistics are courtesy of eliteprospects.com, theahl.com, or hand-tracked myself.